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Nonprofit Overview

Mission: Lead our community to ensure that anyone who needs a healthy meal can get one.

Results: We are the largest nonprofit provider of food in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties; nearly 1 in 10 people in our region receives some of their food from Second Harvest Food Bank. Last year, we provided more than 65 million pounds of food to a network of more than 320 community-based organizations at more than 850 sites across both counties.

Target demographics: our neighbors who need a healthy meal

Direct beneficiaries per year: over a quarter of a million people each month

Community Stories

97 Stories from Volunteers, Donors & Supporters

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I am both a donor and volunteer with Second Harvest. I love coordinating members of my club to come work at Second Harvest on a Saturday morning. We get pretty dirty sorting cans and filling boxes, but we leave with such satisfaction knowing that our work will help people in our community. I also coordinate food donations at the holidays, as well as personally donating monthly. It's important to me that Second Harvest works locally in my community, helping those in need.

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I have supported Second Harvest financially for many years. In the last couple of years I've added volunteering at their site doing food distribution: sorting cans and bagging goods. I always leave the Second Harvest site feeling wonderful, I know I've made a difference in someone's life - the work is so direct to the needs of my community! The work is easy and fun. I coordinate volunteer work for my local democratic club and we try to be at Second Harvest a couple times a year. What I personally like best about Second Harvest is how their work is used in my local community. Rita, the organizer at Second Harvest in San Carlos, always starts the Saturday morning food sorts by telling the volunteers where the food is going and how much our work counts. We do the work that would cost this organization thousands of dollars a year (actually I think it's much, much more than that, more like $1m/year). As a financial supporter too, I know that my money is used well, with the majority going towards providing food in my community. What I don't see is wasteful mail with mailing labels, etc. that I receive from so many other groups. Second Harvest is one of the main groups I support each year and I highly recommend them to my family and friends.

I only donate money to a few organizations because I want my money to stay in my local community. This is one of the reasons I love Second Harvest! Everything I donate goes to feed the hungry here at home. I donate monthly, for me this is a simple way to make a larger annual donation. I have also volunteered several times with my local political club sorting foods at the Bing Center. getting it ready to send out into the community. These events leave us all feeling good, knowing we have helped our community in so many ways.

Second Harvest Food Bank reaches out to the community to make sure that food is available to all that are hungry. They reach into the communities of both Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties. They also link agencies with disaster preparedness. I have worked with them through 3 agencies. I do not have pictures or video, but I am honored to be even acquainted with them.Bonnie Miller

SHFB is a great i have been on both sides of the table being the person in need of the assistance and was able to receive fresh produce and other grocery needs with out feeling like i was getting some left overs that no one else wanted and was able to present them to my family and feel proud. Then in my employment when i found that we worked with SHFB and and I was going to be able to present these same fresh items to my clients and they appreciated them it was a good feeling for me and my team of coworkers good job SHFB keep up the great work

As a retired Parole Agent, I have often referred my parolees and their families to the Second Harvest Food Bank for resources.Even my own mother, who lives on a modest income, swears by and partakes in the Brown Bag for Seniors and the discounted hot meals at the Senior Center in East Palo Alto, CA. The Second Harvest Food Bank has enhanced the quality of life of Seniors and families in San Mateo & Santa Clara counties.

I have never worked with a non-profit like Second Harvest before. They truly care about the community and it's needs. Our families receive so much help from Second Harvest. Their employees are exceptionally helpful and good-hearted.

Having both volunteered and been a consumer at SHFB I would like to say it is one of the most vital and humane non-profits out there. I want to mention expressly, the local harvest of neighborhood fruit trees and say that this is some of the healthiest and best-tasting food I have encountered at any place. Volunteers are well-supervised and rewarded, and the staff is caring, professional, and helpful at every turn, including referrals to other resources above and beyond the call of their duties. They are superb in every way.

I have volunteered once a week at SHFB Cypress location for 9 months now. I work at the reception desk, where I get a bird's eye view of all the activities that go on here. I get to meet SHFB Staff, Donors, Volunteers, and Clients. And they're all wonderful people. It is very gratifying to be a small part of this great organization which is helping SO many in our community who don't have enough food.